The quest notification wasn't what Matthew had hoped. As he saw the number of his allies tick down.
Matthew ran to Sanri as his body began to fall; the golden spear flacking away into shards of light before dimming out of vision.
Matthew caught Sanri before he fell onto the titan's corpse. His body was already beginning to grow cold from the lack of flowing blood. The light glisten in Sanri's eyes had all but dulled.
On the ground, the rest of squad 12 looked on with sorrowful eyes.
Then a form arose from the middle of the wooden monstrosities chest- but a few feet from Matthew, breaking through the layer of branches that made the creature's exterior.
The witch was no longer fully human. Half of her head, as well as the top half of her torso and an arm, were no longer flesh and blood. Now, they were made of vines and branches intertwined together. Vein-like lines of mana coursed through the substance. In her human arm, she clutched her staff, which still glowed a dull green.
"You killed my creation." She muttered, just barely audible to Matthew. Her voice was a mix between that of a human, and the creaking of wood. "Do you have any idea how much of my form that took to regenerate?" Her eyes met Matthew's. The witch clenched her staff. The shaft of wood. Began to crack, before breaking entirely.
A burst of green mana spread through the air before turning into black- inky strands of magic. The strands spread out across the tree before one impaled into Matthew's torso.
He expected a pulse of pain. But he felt nothing except his body weakening.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
[You have been effected with 'Monarch's Blight']
[All Stats have temporarily been reduced by 10]
[Maximum HP has been reduced to 190]
[Maximum MP has been reduced to 71]
***
[Faith has been excluded from this Hex]
***
[All equipment effects and items have been temporarily disabled]
[Faith reduced to 44]
***
[Strength reduced to 53]
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Just as the black mana had pierced through him, the tether of mana shot into his spear causing the metal to quickly rust and chip away.
Behind Matthew, on the ground, the rest of squad 12 flinched as the tethers of mana corroded their weapons.
"I am going to make you suffer for what-" Susana was cut off by a fist arcing across her jaw. The witch was sent tumbling across the wooden corpse before planting her feet- quite literally- onto the corpse to stop herself.
Matthew straightened from his stance as he returned his fist to his side. He glared at the witch. The faint glow of gold still pulsed around him, though it was noticeably dimmer than it had been. "I'm going to kill you."
The witch smirked. "If you kill me now you and your allies won't have time to exit the gate. Did you not notice how far you were to the exit? The gate will close before-" Susana was cut off by Matthew turning to his squad.
"Squad 12, retreat to the gate. I'll deal with the witch." He shouted.
Berret, Valine, Tyler and Audri exchanged glances. "We aren't leaving-" Berret began.
"GO!" Matthew shouted. "I refuse to let anyone else die here!" The golden aura around his body flickered.
Berret pursed his lips, but ultimately he nodded. Not long after squad 12 began running into the forest.
Finally, Matthew turned back to Susana.
"You really think you can face me alone? With no weapon? No mana?" Susana shouted.
"I could say the same for you." Matthew's tone was low as he walked forward.
A smile flew across the human half of Susana's face again. "But you're weakened. Your stats have been reduced. And," The witch got into a loose fighting stance. She stooped a hand into the wood chips beneath her. Her hand came up covered in a thin wooden glove with clawed tips. "You were a lower level than me from the start."
Matthew leaned to the side as a claw of wood slashed at his face, making a cut across his cheek that caused a thin trickle of blood to fall.
[HP: 190/190 > 185/190]
Susana tried to back away after her attack, but a fist slammed into her wooden ribs. Susana was sent flying across the titan's corpse, only to grasp onto the branches of its form to stop her momentum.
A fist-sized hole had appeared on her side from the attack. However the broken branches quickly began to regrow and mend themselves together.
However, Mathew noticed something as Susana stood up. As her wound healed, the wooden form of her body began to expand across her flesh, down to around her mid-thigh; transmuting muscle, bone, and blood into branches and vines.
Susana shot forward again. She was nothing but a blur to Matthew's eyes, but nonetheless he managed to dodge the claw swipe and land a blow to the side of the monarch's face, sending her hurling off of the corpse of the titan and into a tree.
"Do you think a level difference changes any of this?" Matthew asked as he stepped off of the titan to meet Susana on the ground.
Susana shot forward again. This time Matthew took a quick half-step forward and threw a jab into the center of her form. Her momentum cause the fist to punch into and through her wooden chest.
Before Matthew could throw another punch, Susana backed away and leapt onto the trunk of a nearby tree, then to another, then to the ground only to rebound off of it and shoot to another tree.
"I was an E-rank before I became a Fragment of Light." Matthew quickly jumped backwards as Suana shot down from his side. Even so, Susana managed to graze his arm.
[HP: 185/190 > 175/190]
"I'm used to fighting magic beasts who move faster then I can blink." He stepped forward and swung a fist down like a hammer on top of Susana's back.
The ground broke into a web of cracks as Susana's form was pushed into it. Her entire front torso breaking into wooden splinters before regenerating.
Matthew punched the ground where Susana had been as she quickly shot to her feet and backed away. The branches had now transmuted her right leg, down to the knee. Matthew caught of glimpse of the witch glancing at the limb before she shot off towards the trees again.
"I'm used to being on the back foot." Matthew spoke as he barely tracked the blur dipping throughout the trees.
Susana shot out of Matthew's field of view. He turned around just in time to catch the wooden arm of Susana as a clawed hand shot towards his eyes.
Matthew kept a tight grip on the arm as another set of wooden claws scrapped against his flesh, tearing through his useless armor as if it was made of paper.
[HP: 175/190 > 155/190]
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Matthew gritted his teeth as he punched the arm he held in the back of its elbow. Breaking off the wooden arm completely.
Susana grunted as she attacked with her other arm once more, only for Matthew's hand to clamp around it.
Matthew met the monarch's eyes as he continued speaking. "But you aren't." He squeezed Susana's arm, he could feel the bone underneath the little muscle she had. The pressure threatened to snap the monarch's bones in two.
Susana's wooden arm regenerated and she swung again. Another hand clenched around the limb to halt it.
"You're used to being stronger than everyone else. Summoning beasts to do your own work." Matthew began to step forward, holding Susana's arms at bay.
Susana tried to stop the approach, but her feet did nothing more than slide across the dirt.
"You're not used to being in true danger." He kept stepping forward, pressing Susana against the wooden corpse of the titan she had manifested. "You're not used to being injured in battle." Matthew reared his head back. "You are no hunter." He brought his forehead down on Susana's, splintering the top layer of wood on one side and causing a streak of blood to spill from her scalp on the other.
[HP: 155/190 > 140/190]
Susana's knees buckled under the force and she dropped to her knees.
"You're just someone trying to play a monster." Matthew planted his foot on Susana's chest before kicking her into and through the torso of the titan. Without mana reinforcing its body, it was as fragile as any other wooden statue.
Matthew kept walking forward through the human, sized hole he just made, pushing aside some branches that hadn't been pushed aside.
On the other side of the corpse, Susana got to her feet, silently swearing at her regenerating body as wood now consumed her entire right leg. She looked up to see her enemy, a thin line of blood falling from his head, step from the titan's corpse. Her titan. The one she had been thrown through with a single kick. The one she was reduced to her knees at.
She gritted her teeth. "I am the fucking MONARCH OF WITCHCRAFT! You kneel to me!" She shouted. Thin wisps of green mana began to well up in her chest; the last fragments of mana she had pulsed across her body as she shot forward.
She slashed at Matthew's neck, only for him to block the blow with his arm. Nonetheless, the monarch's claws cut through his armor to the flesh beneath.
[HP: 140/190 > 115/190]
She went for another claw at his abdomen only for her arm to be grabbed.
Matthew spun around and slammed Susana into the wooden corpse behind him before continuing his spin. Susana was sent sliding across the side of the corpse before being tossed onto the ground.
The monarch quickly rolled onto her feet and shot towards Matthew. Another attack was grabbed, but Susana quickly drove her other claw down the arm that grasped her.
[HP: 115/190 > 90/190]
Her arms now free, she went to drive a clawed hand into the hunter's chest only for a punch to the stomach to send her skidding backwards.
Susana looked up to her opponent again.
"You could have been a great hunter." Matthew said as Susana shot forward again, grazing his side with an attack before he slammed a fist into the side of her wooden face. "You could have used your abilites to keep magic beasts from killing your own kind."
Susana backed away a few small leaps before she looked down at herself. Her wooden form was beginning to creep across the rest of her torso as her wounds regenerated.
She looked back to Matthew, only to find he had closed the distance between them. She quickly held her hands up around her head, only for a firm kick to strike the side of her knee. She nearly fell to her knees again when a fist struck her jaw, giving just enough force to keep her on her feet. Another blow struck her chest. Then she managed to barely block another blow on her face, though her wooden arm cracked in the process. Another blow to her chest. Then her wooden leg. Then her face.
Susana finally dodged an attack and leapt backwards onto the branches of a tree.
Matthew kept his eyes on the wooden beast as she began to leap from tree to tree, retreating deeper into the forest.
Matthew sighed before grabbing a long broken branch from the ground. He spun it in his hand before throwing the sharp piece of wood like a javelin.
The branch flew nearly 120 feet before striking Susana through the back.
As Susana tumbled to the ground he groaned before striking the branch and removing it from her ever-healing torso. The branches now consumed her entire torso. The only remnants of her human form was half her head, as well as her left arm and leg. "Gah, that bitch. I am going to kill him." She breathed heavily as she spoke. Rather, her wooden body mimicked the act. The branches making up her throat and chest creaking as they expanded and retracted with her invisible breath.
She heard footsteps in the grass nearby, turning to see the hunter stepping into the trees. His golden aura repeatedly flickered. Whatever buff he used that kept him level with her would end soon.
Susana got into a fighting stance again.
She just needed to keep him fighting. Distracting him just a little longer. She just needed to be patient.
"Running only gives more time for my allies to leave." Matthew said as he dodged a slash from Susana. He swung, bit Susana leaned back to dodge only for Matthew to step forward and throw another punch straight into her nose. Another punch landed on the side of her face.
Susana stumbled back and managed to dodge two more punches before a third struck her ribs. She managed to cut across Matthew's arm as he went in for a fourth blow, but that didn't stop a fist from colliding with her jaw.
[HP: 90/190 > 75/190]
The next thing she knew, Susana had a hand clenched around her neck. Susana grabbed one the arm that held her, trying and failing to tear it away. With her other arm she slashed at Matthew's face, drawing blood across his forhead before her other arm was grabbed.
[HP: 75/190 > 65/190]
"What makes a hunter?" Matthew asked, loosening his grip on Susana's neck ever so slightly. Just enough so she could speak.
A few seconds of silent struggling later, and Matthew tightened his grip again.
"A hunter kills monsters." Suddenly, Susana found her back colliding either the floor, cracking the branches that slowly spread down her left leg.
Matthew lifted her up, to where she was almost on her knees. "A hunter risks their life to keep the beasts at bay." He slammed her into the ground again.
He lifted her. "A hunter does not flee when death approaches." He slammed her into the ground again, before lifting her up. "But you,"
Matthew let go of Susana, who fell on all fours in front of the hunter as she gasped for breath. She only was able inhale once before a foot slammed into her face, sending her careening into a tree.
"You have become a monster." Matthew grabbed the beast by wooden protrusions at the top of her head before slamming her face into the ground. "You make magic beasts to terrorize and kill hunters."
Matthew planted his foot on Susana's back before grabbing her one human arm. "You," he altered his footing onto her shoulder blade and began to pull.
"Wait-" Susana began as she a dull crack rang in her ears. She wasn't sure if it was branches or bone anymore.
"You fear death. So much so that you are willing to throw away your humanity." Matthew swisted the monsters arm in its socket, several more cracks and pops rang out as Susana began to scream. Only to be silenced by Matthew pressing her face into the dirt. "You killed members my squad." He continued to pull and twisting until a horrid snap and tear split the air, and Susana's arm was torn completely from its socket.
The bleeding stub didn't last long as several branches grew in its place to make a new arm. As such, the branches around her leg began to consume it.
Susana's screams gradually became soft sobs as she felt her flesh turn to wood. The only fragments of her true body was half of her head.
Matthew stepped off of the monarch as she shakily rose to her knees.
Matthew turned back around at Susana and grimaced.
Her wooden hands were clasped together as she bowed on hands and knees. Her body was shaking slightly.
Matthew could just barely hear the woman's sobs. "S-spare me... please. I- I swear I won't kill any more hunters. I-I won't hurt you if-" she stopped suddenly when Matthew grabbed her by the chin and lifted her eyes to meet his.
Surprisingly, his eyes were no longer growing gold, nor were they drenched in anger. She saw pity reflected on his face.
"Don't pray for mercy from me. Pray to whatever god you believe for it," Matthew rose his foot. "You will be shown none from me." He let his foot down and crushed Susana's head under his boot.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
[Leveled-Up]
[Leveled-Up]
[Leveled-Up]
[Leveled-Up]
***
[Quest: Monarch of Witchcraft]
[Rank: B-]
[Objective: You have encountered the vessel of the Monarch of Witchcraft who may one day threaten the world. End this threat before they can grow too powerful.]
[Rewards: Random B-rank item]
[Bonus Objective: Evacuate all allies]
[Bonus Reward: Varies based on number of allies extracted]
[Allies extracted: 4/4]
***
[Effect 'Witch Wood' has vanished]
[All stats have increased by 2]
[Faith has been excluded from this effect]
***
[Effect 'Monarch's Hex' has vanished]
[All stats have increased by 10]
[Faith has been excluded from this effect]
[Equipment bonuses have returned]
[Faith has increased by 20]
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Matthew slumped next to a tree as the faint golden aura around his body flickered and faded. He was lucky the battle had ended when it had. He was nearing the limit of the buffs duration. He'd only held onto a sliver of it due to sheer will as the golden mana began to slip from him.
He let out a shaky breath. At least his squad had fled successfully. If he was being honest with himself, he was surprised they didn't change their mind half way through and come help him fight. But nonetheless, he was happy they made it out. Suddenly, as he absorbed the scenery of the wood around him, another screen appeared.
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[Milestone Reached (level 30)]
[Allocating Rewards]
[ +15 ability points, 1 C-Rank skill]
[Job Quest Available]
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***
The last remnants of squad 12 waited outside the gate. Each member got more anxious with each passing moment.
They didn't quite know how long the gate would stay open for. For all they knew Matthew could have fallen and a dungeon break could occur by the time they were back to the guildhall- a shadow of their former self.
But then the gate began to crackle.
"Shit." Berret began before he felt someone run by him. "Wait, don't-" he got no further when he saw Audri run towards the sputtering gate.
"He's just on the other side. He has to be. He's almost to the gate." Audri muttered to herself. She wasn't going to let Matthew be abandoned. If she could just give him a small boost to reach through the gate-
Her thoughts were cast away as she leapt through the swirling blue portal. She quickly skidded in the grass as she saw nothing but trees.
In a moment of panic, she turned back only to see the portal vanishing in a spray of mana.